The Colorado State University Collegiate Challenge, one of the most enriching student business pitch competitions in the region, is now accepting online applications through March 6.
Collegiate entrepreneurs from a 10-state region are invited to apply to compete for $25,000 in cash awards plus other prizes. The winner also advances to compete in the Blue Ocean Enterprises regional challenge later in the year for a shot at the national challenge and a cash grand prize award of $250,000.
The competition will take place April 27 in Fort Collins. Interested student entrepreneurs may learn more about the application criteria and submit applications at www.CSUCollegiateChallenge.org.
Celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation
CSU’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and CSU Ventures are hosting the CSU Collegiate Challenge, a celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation. The day features the Business Pitch Competition, The Innovation Symposium, entrepreneurship speakers, and networking events, all focused on developing knowledge, resources, and connections to support entrepreneurs and advance new businesses.
The competition is unique in its focus of providing enriching educational experiences for every competitor including expert feedback from angel investors and experienced entrepreneurs. Competitors practice their pitch to several mentors a week before the competition to get feedback. The evening before the competition, the Advisor Round Table event pairs competitors with expert advisors in different business areas to provide in-depth advice about the companies. After pitching in the Competition Seed Round, every competitor also receives a one-on-one feedback session with Rockies Venture Club angel Investors to further improve their business.
“All students will gain knowledge, skills and connections from experienced entrepreneurs and experts to improve themselves and advance their business, whether or not they win,” said Christine Chin, interim director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship at CSU’s College of Business. “We have created a valuable, fun and educational experience as well as a realistic chance to earn capital for their companies.”
Undergraduate or graduate student entrepreneurs
The CSU Collegiate Challenge is open to actively enrolled undergraduate or graduate student entrepreneurs attending accredited universities or colleges, as well as those who have graduated in the past 12 months, from the following states: Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
The competition begins with all competitors pitching their businesses during the opening round, from which four finalists will be selected. Finalists will make timed presentations to a panel of expert judges who will provide feedback and select the winners.
The final deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time March 6, and competitors will be notified of acceptance on March 24. Additional information for applicants, potential sponsors and interested attendees is available at www.CSUCollegiateChallenge.org.
Questions about the CSU Collegiate Challenge may be directed to Christine Chin at Christine.Chin@colostate.edu.
About CSU Collegiate Challenge Business Pitch Competition
The CSU Collegiate Challenge is a competition that inspires, connects and educates student entrepreneurs to improve their success trajectory. Presented by Colorado State University, the competition is a celebration of entrepreneurial spirit among students, innovation, leadership development and supporting ventures that make a difference. The competition aims to connect students to the robust CSU and Northern Colorado entrepreneurial ecosystem. Twelve student companies from a 10-state region will get the opportunity to compete for $25,000 in prizes. More information is available at www.CSUCollegiateChallenge.org.
CSU Institute for Entrepreneurship
The CSU institute for Entrepreneurship is a globally recognized cross-disciplinary hub for inspiring and cultivating entrepreneurship across campus. Our mission is to cultivate world-class business leaders through the generation of scholarly work, encouragement of an entrepreneurial mindset, and the development of programs that enable entrepreneurship education and development of economic growth in our community, state, country, and world. More information is available at biz.colostate.edu/IE.
CSU Ventures
CSU Ventures is dedicated to the business of technology transfer and commercialization at Colorado State University. They bring innovations and technologies discovered at CSU into the marketplace for the benefit of society. Their expertise is in intellectual property, licensing, partnership building and entrepreneurship. They protect, manage and transfer CSU innovations by connecting individuals and companies with university researchers. More information is available at www.csuventures.org.
